Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Saving a Stranger, Finding a Brother-in-law

"So he’s a Dragon Clan Beastman. So what? Down in the Underground Mine, even a dragon is helpless."

"Alright, alright, that’s enough talk. Hurry up and come with us."

After Feng Xuan weighed the pros and cons, he obediently followed behind them.

The two walked ahead, remarking, "It’s been a while since we had such an obedient newcomer. The others who came before always made some trouble, especially that Dragon Clan Beastman. He caused a huge fuss and killed several foremen."

"Yeah, yeah. Good thing the two of us weren’t around for that."

Feng Xuan listened silently to their chatter. When they arrived, he saw several teams of male Beastmen holding tools, lining up to enter a series of caves.

"New guy, you’re number 500. Doesn’t matter what your name was before. From now on, you’re ’Number 500’."

Feng Xuan meekly acknowledged it, bowing his head to feign fear. He took the tools, and a Steward led him to his living quarters.

They were low, dark wooden huts. The inside was extremely cramped, and a foul stench hit him the moment he entered. Feng Xuan covered his nose, discreetly observing his surroundings.

Next to him was a male in tattered clothes, covered in wounds that looked like they were from a whip.

The Steward said, his expression unchanged, "This is your place. Two people to a room. Once this Number 490 here dies, you’ll have the room to yourself for a while."

"Since you were unlucky enough to end up here, you should just accept your fate. Don’t even think about escaping. Number 490 is a good example of what happens."

The Steward spoke in a meaningful tone, "Work starts tomorrow. Work hard, and in a few years, you might get promoted to foreman. There’s no shortage of food or drink here. It’s not so different from the outside."

In the past, they never treated the miners this well. They would beat and curse them as they pleased, and always gave them as little food as possible.

But too many miners died, and they couldn’t get replacements fast enough. So, they had to change their strategy: focusing on motivation, with punishment as a supplement.

Feng Xuan said in a low voice, "Thank you, Steward. I understand."

"I don’t want to get out at all. I made enemies on the outside who are trying to kill me."

There were others like him among the miners, so the Steward didn’t think much of it. He told him to get a good night’s rest and left.

After he left, Feng Xuan gathered the junk in the hut and threw it out. He figured there must be a place in the mining area to buy things; otherwise, the two men who brought him here wouldn’t have had their eyes light up at the sight of money.

After asking around, Feng Xuan joked grimly that he’d arrived at a good time. Miners who came before him were always strip-searched.

Not only would they take your money, but they would have also stripped him of his fine clothes.

Feng Xuan pondered for a moment, then took out his money and, more importantly, the Divine Spring Water, and hid them in a concealed spot in the wooden hut.

He took a small amount of silver and copper coins to the place where things were sold and bought food, water, and some bedding.

He was new and completely unfamiliar with this place. He decided to figure out the situation first before making any plans.

When he returned, his supposedly dying roommate was still breathing.

Feng Xuan hesitated for a moment, then tidied up the man’s appearance a bit so he wouldn’t look too awful when he died.

As for saving him... he didn’t have the ability, nor was he willing to part with his Divine Spring Water.

’The Divine Spring Water is for saving my own life. I still have to get back to my family alive. Every drop I use is a drop gone forever!’

Seeing the man’s chapped lips, Feng Xuan was kind enough to give him a little water.

"Our meeting must be fate. This is all I can do for you..."

He muttered to himself. Just as he was about to leave, he felt a hand grab the corner of his clothes.

The unconscious male’s lips moved continuously, as if he were trying to say something.

Feng Xuan paused and leaned in, trying to hear what he was saying.

’If I manage to escape, it would be good to send a message to this man’s family.’ 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Female Mother... little sister..."

"Invincible Alliance... captured me... is fake..."

Barely making out the words, Feng Xuan frowned.

’He mentioned the Invincible Alliance. What’s his connection to them?’

After a great internal struggle, Feng Xuan steeled his heart and walked toward the spot where he had hidden the Divine Spring Water.

...

Not knowing what Mo Yan had given him to eat, Ao Yi found that his injuries were healing, and quickly at that.

He was able to get out of bed after just a few days. He believed he would be fully recovered soon. Then, together with Mo Yan, maybe this time they could climb out.

"Brother Ao, several people have gone missing recently."

Mo Yan walked in carrying his hunt, his brow tightly furrowed.

Ao Yi was puzzled. "Missing?"

"Yes," Mo Yan nodded. "Some disappeared while hunting in the dense forest, others vanished from their homes. Fewer people went missing before, so no one noticed anything was wrong. They just thought they were eaten by wild beasts. But it’s been happening more and more lately."

The area at the bottom of the abyss was vast, with a forest nearby where the Beastmen who had been sucked down here would hunt.

In the past, a few would disappear occasionally, but no one paid it any mind. If they could hunt wild beasts, it was only natural that wild beasts could kill them in return.

Ao Yi sighed. "The reason I wanted to leave this place was, one, to go home, and two, because I noticed people were disappearing frequently."

"I mentioned it to them before, but they didn’t care. They said they were probably eaten by beasts. Later, since not too many more people went missing, I also assumed it was the work of wild animals."

Mo Yan had a sudden realization. "No wonder you told me not to go deep into the forest."

He cherished his life, and with Ao Yi’s advice, he only hunted small game nearby.

Since more people had disappeared, and a significant number at that, this place was clearly not safe.

Even the Beastmen who had previously resigned themselves to living out their lives here were now in a panic after their companions started vanishing without a trace.

When Mo Yan was on his way back, someone stopped him and proposed they escape this place together.

There was no reason not to; there is strength in numbers. If they ran into danger, they could help each other.

Mo Yan didn’t agree immediately, wanting to return and discuss it with Ao Yi first.

Ao Yi had no objections. "Last time, I had almost climbed out, but someone knocked me back down. If I had a companion to pull me up, I wouldn’t have fallen."

These Beastmen were not wicked people. When he fell, they even helped him find herbs for his injuries.

It was just that his injuries were too severe, and there was nothing more they could do, so they had to leave him to fend for himself.

"I’m almost fully recovered," Ao Yi said, stretching his limbs. "Xiao Yan, please ask them who wants to leave. The exit is far, so we need to be well-prepared."

Mo Yan thought for a moment. "Staying here is a death sentence. Everyone probably wants to leave. I’ll bring them here. The cave is quite large. Why don’t we all live in the cave before we leave, to prevent anyone else from disappearing."

Ao Yi agreed. "Then go call them over. I’ll tell you all about my last attempt."

Seeing Mo Yan come out, the Beastmen who had been waiting nearby quickly surrounded him.

"Brother Mo, how did it go? Can we join you?"

’With an experienced person like Ao Yi leading, maybe we can really escape!’

"Yes," Mo Yan nodded. "But we need to prepare some things before we set off."

"What’s there to prepare? Let’s just go now!"

A Beastman said anxiously, "If we wait any longer, I might be the next one to disappear!"

He had gone hunting with his companion, and in the blink of an eye, his companion was gone!